Loom shedding means



Dec. 10, 1946. 7 an PARKER LOOK SHEDDING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 1, 1945 s a x 3% m 0 A m a 24m" m n; m S. v z. Y on an we 8 ON r0 0 2. 2.

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Filed llay l, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheep 2 FIQ6 54mm. E PARKuv. w

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Dec. 10, 1946. s. P. PARKER 2,412,354

LOOM SHEDDING MEANS Filed ma 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet s SAMUEL F. anew. 8v M ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1946. s R PAR-KER 2,412,354

LOOM SHEDDING MEANS Filed Ilay 1, 1945 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 luvem-on. SAMucL I? FA an.

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D80 1946- s/P. PARKER 1400M SHEDDING MEANS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 1 1945 m. K, w R r m. NP. m w T R A u; M

Patented Dec. 1 0, 1 946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOOM snsnnmo MEANS Samuel 1?. Parker, La Grange, Ga., assignor to Callaway Mills, La Grange, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Application May 1, 1945, Serial No. 591,266

18 Claims.

the warp yarns may, accordingly, be supplied to the discs from a beam or any other suitable source.

In disc looms in which the discs continuously rotate in one direction, the strands of warp yarn handled by a single disc are twisted together by the rotation of the disc, and the twist runs in both directions from the disc. If measures were not taken to prevent, the twist running back from each disc to the supplies of warp yarns would soon'make it impossible to draw the yarns fromv the supplies. It has, accordingly, been proposed to reverse the direction of rotation of the discs periodically so that the discs rotate one or more steps in onedirection and then rotate stepwise the discs taking out the twist imparted to the groups of warp yarns handled by individual discs, between the discs and the warp yarn supplies, The mechanism heretofore proposed for the purpose of driving the discs with a reversing action is impractical,.in that the discs are not under.

positive control at all timesv and part of their movement results from momentum.

The new mechanism overcomes the objections to the disc drive previously proposed and it includes positive means' for rotating the discs in one direction or the other. The disc rotating means may include a shaft operatively connected to the discs, and pawl and ratchet means for moving the shaft stepwise in one direction or the other under the control of means which are in turn controlled by a pattern element; Means, preferably taking the form of a shaft carrying cams, are provided for operating the pawl and ratchet means and for advancing the patern element, and in the preferred construction, the-disc drive shaft is provided with a brake which is actuated by the cam shaft at the appropriate times to hold the disc drive shaft against acci' v dental rotation.

- For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a disc loom equipped-with the new disc drive, parts of the loom being broken away to show the features of the drive;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation, with parts 'in the reverse direction, the reverse rotation of broken away, of lower portions of the new drive;

, Fig. 3 is a view'similar to Fig. 2, showing upper portions of the new drive; v

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, the lower partbeing taken: on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, and the upper part on the line 40-41: of Fig.3;

. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, the lower part being taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2, and

the upper part on the line -50 of Fig. .3;

Fig. '6 is a vertical sectional view on the line 6--3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 'l is a sectional Fi 3; a

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of a ratchet wheel used in the new drive;

Fig.9 is a view in end elevation of a modified view on the line 1-1 of,

drive;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 9; and I Fig. 11 is a,view in rear elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 9.

The loom illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises the usual sides 20, between which extends a crank shaft 2| operating a lay 22 provided with a reed 23. A shuttle 24 is movable across the lay in the usual way by conventional means, such as picker sticks, etc., operated from cam shaft 25. The warp yarns 28 are drawnfrom any suitable source of supply, such as beam 21, the arbor 2B of which is-provided with a brake drum 28a acted on by a brake band 29.- From the beam, the yarns travel through a device, generally designated 30, for maintaining the yarns under tension, the device preferably being that disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 591,265, filed May 1, 1945. From the tension control device, the yarns pass around lease rods indicated at 3|, and thence to discs 32. In the construc-.

tion shown, each disc has four openings for the passage of individual yarns, and the discs are formed with peripheral teeth (not shown) meshing with long pinions on upper and lower shafts 33, 34, respectively, which are supported in upward extensions 35 on the loom sides. The discs may be held in spaced relation by any suitable means, such as those shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 591,267, filed May 1, 1945.

In the operation of the loom, the discs are rotated stepwise through a quarter turn at each step, and sheds are thereby formed, through which shuttle 24 is passed to produce a fabric. The fabric is taken up on a take-up roll 36 after having passed around other rolls, such as that indicated at 31.

The new drive forwthe discs comprises a shaft 38 mounted in suitable bearings in the loom sides and provided with a sprocket wheel 39, about I 3 I sprocket wheels thereon, so that the shafts wi rotate in unison. Shaft 38 is provided with a pair of ratchet wheels 42, 43 fast thereon and oppositely disposed, that is, having their 'teeth extending in opposite directions. A yoke 44 straddles shaft 38 and is pivotally supported at 45 on an arm 46 pivoted at 41 on an upright frame member 48 attached to a part of the loom frame work. The yoke is provided with pawls for operating the ratchet wheels and, in the construction shown, thepawlstake the form of pins 49, 56 engageable with the teeth -of ratchet wheels 42, 43, respectively, depending on the position of yoke 44. A spring connected to the tail of the yoke and to frame member 48 tends to swing the yoke counterclockwise on its pivot 45 to bring pin 49 into operative relation to the teeth of ratchet 42. The yoke is movable to the opposite position, as' shown in Fig. 4, by means controlled by a pattern device.

The pattern device includes a pattern element 52 in the form of a chain carrying riders 53- mountedin a selected arrangement on the links thereof, and the chain runs over a sprocket 'wheel 54 on a shaft 55 supported in bearings in arms 56 attached to the arch 51- of the loom. A ratchet wheel 58 fast on shaft 55, is actuated by pawl 59 carried by an arm 60 loosely mounted shaft 55 by' one step. Shaft 55 carries a disc 66 fast thereon, the disc having peripheral depressions 65a which may be entered-by a disc 61 carried by an arm 68 pivotally mounted on a rod 56aextending between arms-56. The free end of arm 68 is connected by a spring 6 to one end of a rod mounted for swinging movement on shaft 55 and having a rearward extension overlying rod 56a. With this arrangement, arm 10 acts as a stop for one end of spring 68 and, as shaft 55 is advanced a step by rotation of ratchet wheel 58, disc 61 is forced upwardly out of a depressionin the periphery of disc 66 against the action of spring 69. Disc 61 then entershthe next depression in disc '66 and this serves to hold shaft 55 against further movement until ratchet i and is connected bya rod [3 to a crank arm 14 fast on a shaft mounted in a bracket on one of the loom sides, and shaft [515 provided with another arm 16 connected by a link-I1 and a'stiif spring 18 to one leg of yoke 44. With this arrangement, when a rider 53 on chain 52 lies beneath arm 1 |,.the arm is raised, and this causes shaft 15 to be swung clockwise. Arm [6 then acts through link 11 andspring '18 to pull the lower end of yoke 44 to the left, as shown in Fig. 4.

In this position of the yoke, pin 56 lies in operas tive relation to the teeth of its ratchet wheel 43, and upon raising of the yoke by arm 46, the

, pin acts on the ratchet wheel to rotate the wheel and shaft 38 by one tooth on the wheel. Arm 46 is regularly raised and lowered during the operation of the loom by means of a double acting 4 cam 18 on shaft 26, the cam engaging a'rolle'r 88 mounted on a stud on arm 46.

In order to prevent overrunning of shaft 38, it is provided with-a brake'drum 8| having a peripheral channel in which is seated a brake band consisting of a strap 82 carrying a length of brake lining 83 on its inner face. The strap is connected at one end to a pin'84 on an armthe bolt and bearing at one end against the wing nut and at the other end against arm 85. Arm.85 is raised and lowered during the operation of the loom by a double acting cam 9| on shaft 25. When a low part of the cam is in contact with arm 85, the strap 82 bears lightly against the drum' 8|, so that shaft 38 can be moved against the action of the brake. When a high point on cam 91 bears against the arm and swings it upwardly, strap 82 bears so tightly against drum 8| as toprevent rotation of shaft 38.

In the operation of the apparatus so far described, the rotation of cam shaftv25 causes yoke 44 to be raised and lowered twice per revolution of the shaft. In each upward movement of the yoke, one or the other of pins 48, engages its respective ratchet wheel 42, 43 and rotates the wheel and shaft 38 by one tooth. Duringsuch, movements of shaft 38, arm 85 is in the down position so that the brake band 82 bears lightly against drum .8l and permits the. shaft to be rotated. In the end of each step in the movement of shaft 38,arm 85 is raised to apply the brake and prevent anyoverrunning of shaft clockwise by one step anddiscs 32 are moved 38. Once per revolution of shaft 25, arm 62 is operated to advance ratchet wheel 58 by one' tooth. This causes shaft 55 and sprocket wheel 54 to be rotated a step and pattern chain 52 to be .advanced a step.

described to keep the lower end of yoke 44 to the left, as shown in Fig. 4. With the yoke in this position, the raising of arm 46 by cam 19 causes pin50 to engage a tooth of its ratchet wheel and advance the wheel by one tooth for each rais- This causes'shaft 38 to be ading of arm 46. vanc-ed counterclockwise by one step, and 'the shaft acts through chain 48 to rotate shaft 34 one step. Rotation of shaft 34 causes shaft 33 to rotate, and the pinions on the shaft cause discs 32 to move-one step in a clockwise direction, asv

viewed inFig. 1. Whenever a portion of chain 52, not provided with a ider, comes beneath arm H, the arm swings down, and this permits spring 5! to act on thetail of yoke 44 and swing the yoke, 50 that pin 49 moves into operative relation with its ratchet wheel 42. On the next upward movement of arm 46, ratchet wheel 42 is advanced one step, and this causes shaft 38 to'inove counterclockwise.

The ,brake acting on shaft 38 and consisting of brake drum 8|, strap .82, and arm 85, is released just prior to each upward movement of arm 46 and yoke 44. At the end of each step i next action of arm 46 and yoke 44.

amasse- 5 in the modified construction shown in Figs.- 9, 10, and 11, the crankshaft 2! of the loom carries agear 92 meshing with gear 93.011 a shaft 96. Shaft 94 is provided with a disc Sta carrying an eccentric pin to which is connected rod to, which reciprocates a rod 95 mounted in a guide 97. Rod 95 is attached at one end to a yoke as, in which are pivotally mounted pawls $9, each of whichis provided with a pin loll lying within a slot- WI in a bar I02. The bar is connected by a cord M3 to the harness lever it of a dobby head, the position of the lever being controlled by a chain Hi5 trained about a sprocket wheel. ass on a shaft It? and carrying riders 888 in a selected arrangement. Pawls 9d operate on respective ratchet wheels I119, I091: on a shaft lie provided with a sprocket wheel Hi, about which is trained a chain 2. The chain passes about a sprocket wheel M3 on a shaft 341, which corresponds to shaft 3d in the Fig. l construction, and is provided witha long pinion (not shown), the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of the discs to be driven.

lhe construction shown in Figs. 9, 1c, and ii operates as follows: n each revolution of shaft" rod as is reciprocated and moves yoke as back forth. Both pawls es move with the yoke, and one or the other oi the pawls engages its respective ratchet wheel use, ldiia, depending on the position of bar use. When a rider on chain tllii iies beneath the harness lever tilt, the lever raised and this raises bar Hi2. In such upward movement of bar m2, the lower end of the upper slot t lt engages pin lilii on the upper pawl i i: raises the pawl free of ratchet wheel ltd, this movement of the pawl being resisted by spring M 3 connecting the pawl to the bar. At the same time, lower pawl is raised by its spring lid connecting the pawl to bar m2, and the end of the pawl moves into operative relation with the teeth on ratchet wheel Edda. On the next movement of rod es and yoke as to the left, pawl 9% causes its ratchet wheel to be advanced by one tooth, and this causes clockwise rotation of shafts toil and 34' and counterclockwise movement of the discs driven by shaft 3 Shaft it? is advanced stepwise by appropriate means, as, for example, a ratchet wheel on the shaft, similar to ratchet wheel 58, a pawl for moving the ratchet wheel, and cam means for actuating the pawl. ,So long as a, rider m8 on the chain lies beneath lever MM at each period of rest of the chain, bar Hi2 will remain elevated, and lower pawl 9d will be 'efiective. Whenever a chain link not provided with a rider comes beneath lever HM, bar N32 is allowed to move down, and this causes upper pawl 99 to become effective and the lower pawl to become ineffective.

hit

to the discs for rotating them stepwise in either direction, said means including a shaft' a ml of oppositely disposed ratchet wheels on the shaft,

and a reciprocating member carrying a pair of disposed ratchet wheels on the shaft, a pair of pawls engageable selectively with respective ratchet wheels, means forreciprocating the pawls in unison, control means acting to render a se= 'lected pawl effective and the other ineffective,

and a pattern device for means. i

3. in loom, the combination of aplurality of warp shedding discs, means operativelv con= necmd to the discs for rotating them in either direction, control means operative only for controlling-the operation oi the rotating means, a pattern device'for controlling the control means, and a drive shaft for operating Tooth the rotat= ing means and the pattern devicel v 4. In a loom, the "combination a plurality of warp shedd discs, means operatively (1021- nected to the discs for rotating them in either direction, control means operative only con", trolling the operation of the rotating means, a

controllin the control pattern device for controlling the control means,

and means including a shaft and earns thereon for operating both the rotating means and the pattern device,

warp shedding discs, means 0 opera 5. In a loom, the combination of a as each step in their movement, and a drive shaft fad nected to the discs for rotating them stepwise in either direction, control means operative only for controlling the operation of the rotating means, a pattern device for controlling the control means, means'acting on the rotating means to arrest the a rotation of the discs at the end of each step in their movement, and means including a shaft and The discs are thus rotated stepwise in one direction or the other by rotation of shaft 36', the direction of rotation of which is determined by the patternchain.

The loom illustrated and described is provided with discs having four openings therethrough, so that each disc handles four warp yarns, or a multiple of four yarns. It is to be understood that the discs may have a number of openings other than four, if desired, or the discs shown may be operated to control only two yarns.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 551,830, filed August 30, 1944.

The claims are:

1. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, means operatively connected cams thereon for operating the rotating means and the pattern device.

7. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of so warp shedding discs, means operatively connected to the discs for rotating'them stepwise in either direction, said means including a pair of ratchet wheels and pawl means selectively operable on one or the other of the ratchet wheels,

5 control means operative only for controlling the action of the pawl means, a pattern device for controlling the control means, and a drive shaft for operating both the rotating means and the able on one or the other of the ratchet wheels,

aeraase control means operative only for controllin the action of the pawl means, a pattern device for controlling the control means, and means including a shaft and cams thereon for operating both the rotating means and the pattern device.

9. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, means operatively connected to the discs for rotating them stepwise in either direction, said means including a pair of ratchet wheels andreciprocating-pawl means selectively operable on one or the other of the ratchet wheels, control means operative only for controlling the action of the pawl means, a pattern device for controlling the control means, and a drive shaft for operating both the rotatand a pattern device for controlling the control means.

11. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of shedding discs, a shaft connected to the discs to rotate them, a pair of ratchet wheels oppositely disposed on the shaft, a yoke, a pair of pawls car riedby the yoke and engageable selectively with respective ratchet wheels, means for moving the yoke between .two positions to bring a selected pawl into operative relation to its ratchet wheel,

means for reciprocating the yoke, pattern means for controlling the operation of the yoke moving.

means, and means for operating the yoke moving means and the pattern means.

12. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, means operatively connected to the discs for rotating them-stepwise in either direction, control means for controlling the operation of the rotating means, a pattern device for controlling the control means, means acting on the rotating means to arrest the rotation of the discs at the end of each step in their movement, and a drive shaft for operating the rotating means, the pattern device, and the arresting means. I

13. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, means operatively connected to the discs for rotating them stepwise in either direction, control means for controlling the operation of the rotating means, a pattern device for controlling the control means, means acting on the rotating means to arrest the rotation of the discs at the end of each step in their movement, and means including a shaft and cams thereon for operating the rotating means,

the pattern device, and the arresting means.

14. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, a shaft operatively connected to the discs to rotate them, a pair of ratchet wheels oppositely disposedon the shaft, means including pawls selectively engageable with respective ratchet wheels to rotate the shaft stepwise in opposite directions, brake means operable on the shaft to arrest its movement at the,

end of each step, control means for controlling the action of the rotating means, a pattern device including a pattern element for controlling the action of the control. means, and means for operating the rotating means and advancing the pattern element stepwise, said means releasing the brake means at the beginning of each operation of the rotating means.

15. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, a shaft operatively connected to the discs torotate them, a pair of ratchet wheels oppositely disposed on the shaft, means including pawls selectively engageable with respective ratchet wheels to rotate the shaft stepwise in opposite directions, brake means operable on the shaft to arrest its movement. at the end of each step, control means for controlling the action of the rotating means, a pattern device including a, pattern element for controlling the action of I the control-means, and a shaft provided with cams for operating the rotating means, advancing the pattern element stepwise, and releasing the brake means at the beginning of each operation of the rotating means.

16. In a loom, 'the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, a shaft operatively connected to the discs to rotate them, a pair of ratchet wheels oppositely disposed on the shaft, a yoke carrying a pair of pawls engageable with respective ratchet-wheels, an arm movably supporting the yoke, means connected to the yoke for shifting it relative to the arm for bringing a selected pawl into operative relation to its ratchet wheel, a pattern element, means controlled by the element for controlling the yoke shifting means, and a shaft having cams for advancing the pattern element stepwise and for moving the arm and the yoke thereon to cause the selected pawl to'engage its ratchet wheel and advance the first shaft by one step.

1'7. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, a shaft operatively connected to the discs to rotate them, a pair of ratchet wheels oppositely disposed on the shaft, a yoke carrying a. pair of pawls engageable with respective ratchet wheels, an arm movably supporting the yoke, means connectedto the yoke for shifting it relative to the arm for bringing a selected pawl into operative relationv to its ratchet wheel, a pattern element, means controlled by the element for controlling the yoke shifting means, a brake drum on the shaft, an arm carrying an element engageable with the brake drum to stop rotation of the shaft, and a cam shaft having cams for advancing the pattern element stepwise, for moving the yoke supporting arm to cause the selected pawl to engage its ratchet wheel and advance the'first shaft by one step, and for swinging the second arm to free the element thereon from the brake drum.

18. In a loom, the combination of a plurality of warp shedding discs, a shaft connected to the discs, means for advancing the shaft stepwise in opposite directions, said means including ratchet means on the shaft, a reciprocable member, a pair of pawl elements carried by the member and alternately engageable with the ratchet means, means for reciprocating the member, the pawl elements moving in unison and in the same direction with it, control means for controlling the action of the pawl elements on the ratchet means, and a pattern device for controlling the control means.

SAMUEL P. PARKER. 

